RunningMoms' Blogs

To Caffeinate or not to Caffeinate?  That is the question.

This Saturday, as ventured out to do some nice speed work with my gals it hit me, half way through our 6X800 sprints, my caffeine headache.  It was a painful one, not as bad as one of those, "I shouldn't have had that fourth glass of wine headaches,"  but one that got me jonsing for a Diet. Mt. Dew or a latte, or just anything with precious caffeine!  This has always been a debate for me, do I enjoy a bit of caffeine before morning runs or races to prevent such happenings, or will that dehydrate me and end up hurting me more?

There is a classic picture that Running Mom Amy's husband Joel took of her before last year's Iron Girl enjoying some Diet Coke before the race.  He wondered her motive and she said, "no way am I getting a caffeine headache during this and ruining it!"  I hear ya sister!

I'm a girl who likes some caffeine in the morning, not a ton.  On an extra tired day, I'll stop at Starbucks .  I also, enjoy the free pop (yes pop, not soda) that's provided at my work, and usually enjoy a Diet Mt. Dew or Diet Coke throughout my morning.

Therefore, after last Saturday's splitting headache, I've decided it's OK to have about half a pop before a morning run, it's just what I need, and as long as I'm equally hydrated with water and sports drinks, it won't hurt me.   I'm also going to look into getting the caffeinated sports chews that Powerade and Cliff makes, those could do the trick too!

Do you have this problem too?  To Caffeinate or not to Caffeinate before morning races or runs?  How have you solved it?